Fun Archives | Cool Mom Tech

All the HBO apps and services, explained. Because we’re confused too.

Anyone else confused about the HBO offerings? There’s HBO Go, HBO Max, HBO Now, HBO Later (Okay, I just made that one up, but you get the idea). But the good news is that HBO has finally taken the hint from confused consumers and start consolidating into one...

Calling all aspiring bounty hunters! Mandalorian sneakers are here

by Caroline Siegrist | Fashion + Accessories

What’s the best Mandalorian accessory, aside from a jet pack? I’m going to go ahead and say these amazing Mandalorian sneakers from Adidas. They’re gorgeous, and come in several different styles, so you (and your kids) can channel whichever Star Wars...

Disney+ adds a watch party feature, just in time for The Mandalorian season 2

by Caroline Siegrist | Entertainment

Since 2020 has precluded in-person watch parties, I was glad to see Disney step up their game with GroupWatch. Just like Netflix’s watch party, GroupWatch lets you watch content from Disney+ with others who are far away — and who also subscribe to Disney+,...

6 scary podcasts for kids, just in time for Halloween

by Caroline Siegrist | Entertainment

Gearing up for Halloween is looking a little different this year, but at my house we’ve been getting into the spooky spirit with these awesome scary podcasts for kids. They come at every level of fright, from pumpkin-caper to prepare-to-sleep-with-the-lights-on....

Our favorite self-care apps to help you develop a self-care plan. Because winter is coming.

by Caroline Siegrist | Fitness + Health, Lifestyle Apps

Let’s talk about self-care apps! While I took a no-holds-bar approach at the very beginning of quarantine (It’s the end of the world! Why not scroll all day?), I’m realizing that might not be the most sustainable solution for a pandemic that shows no...

Spruce up your online learning with cool free Zoom backgrounds from National Geographic

by Caroline Siegrist | Fun, Kids

Anyone else tired of broadcasting their messy house over Zoom every day? I definitely was, so I was stoked to discover these cool virtual Zoom backgrounds for online learning from National Geographic. [Insert bad dad joke here about how we’re already living in a...

Alert! Baby Yoda Lego Set lets your child build The Child.

by Kristen Chase | Tech Toys and Random Fun

A smart part of me is a little worried that we’re turning into the Baby Yoda blog here on Cool Mom Tech. But the bigger part of me is like “BRING IT ON!” which is why I’m so excited to share this new Baby Yoda Lego Set (top) that is now...

Online learning this fall? Check out these 5 cool blue light glasses brands for kids

by Caroline Siegrist | Fashion + Accessories

With school going online this fall, we’re starting a whole new phase of parent-sanctioned screen time at my house, which is why I’ve been on the hunt for blue light glasses for kids. The jury’s still out concerning exactly how much these glasses...

Can HEPA air purifiers help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your home? Here’s what you need to know.

by Caroline Siegrist | Around the House, Fitness + Health

Let’s talk HEPA air purifiers and the coronavirus. I’ve started to hear some noise about how these appliances might help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, so I’ve been reading up to see if buying one is worth the money. The TL;DR version?...

5 benefits of kids and social media. Yes, benefits! | Out-Tech Your Kids Ep 4

by Liz Gumbinner | Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, Social Media, Tips and Tricks

We’ve always said that all screen time is not created equal! And on this week’s Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, we’re talking about the benefits of social media for kids. Social media tends to get a bad rap — let alone specific channels like TikTok...

Small but powerful: Baby Yoda face masks for the win!

by Caroline Siegrist | Fashion + Accessories

By now we’ve covered Baby Yoda speakers, pajamas, and Funk POP! figurines, and now I’ve really hit the jackpot with these Baby Yoda face masks from Etsy shop Nerdy Bird Co. I’ve been on the hunt for cheerful face masks to counter all the heaviness of...

Baby Yoda pajamas! Don’t worry, parents, they come in adult sizes too.

by Caroline Siegrist | Fashion + Accessories

I’ve been obsessed with Baby Yoda — like most of the internet — since he exploded onto the scene with The Mandalorian’s release in 2019, so you can imagine how psyched I was when I discovered these Baby Yoda pajamas from Hanna Andersson. Seeing...

NEW: The podcast that helps you be a savvier digital parent in under 15 minutes a week

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.

We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.

We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.

(Answer: It's complicated.)

We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.